Component interlocking and locking apparatus for cabinets



March 5, 1968 R. J. VERMEERSCH COMPONENT INTERLQGKING AND LOCKING APPARATUS FOR CABINETS Filed Feb. 15. 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

*INVENTOR RAYMOND J. VERMEERSCH ATTORNEY Much 1968 R. J. VERMEERSCH 3,

COMPONENT INTERLOCKING AND LOCKING APPARATUS FOR CABINETS Filed Feb. 13, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR RAYMOND J. VERMEESCH MMJM ATTORNEY United States Patent ()fihce 3,371,974 Patented Mar. 5, 1958 3,371,974 COMPONENT INTERLUCKING AND LOCKING APPARATUS FOR CABINETS Raymond J. Vermeersch, Burlington, Iowa, assignor to The Leopold Company, Buriington, Iowa, 21 corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 615,642 16 Claims. (Cl. 3l2218) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An interlocking apparatus for locking all components, except one, within the confines of a cabinet upon initial movement of any one component from a position confined within the cabinet towards a position extending therefrom, and for locking all components within the cabinet in response to actuation of a lock. A strap and associated lock-bar are provided for each component, with the strap disposed on its component for engagement with a cam surface on its associated lock-bar, and with latching hooks disposed on said associated lock-bar, for engagement with the straps disposed on the other components. As the component and its strap begin to move away from the associated lock-bar, the lock-bar falls due to gravity and its latching hooks engage the straps on the other components to prevent movement thereof. One of the lock-bars also has disposed thereon a set of locking hooks disposed to engage the straps of all the components upon actuation of said one lock-bar in response to operation of'a lock, to thereby lock all the components against movement.

BACKGRGUND OF THE INVENTION Field of application This invention relates to component locking and interlocking structure, and more particularly to apparatus responsive to movement of a drawer from a position of 40 confinement within a cabinet towards a position extending from the cabinet for locking all the remaining drawers within the cabinet, and in the alternative for locking all the drawers within the cabinet in response to actuation of a lock.

Description 0 prior art Components, in the form of drawers, that are used in cabinets, and more particularly for cabinets used as filing cabinets and/or as pedestals of desks or credenzas, are

usually associated with lock'bars disposed in the cabinet for locking all the drawers within the confines of the cabinet in response to actuation of a lock; and are in many instances provided with a latch for preventing movement of each component out of the cabinet except when apparatuses have, however, in most instances proved ineffective, with none of said simpler apparatuses also incorporating structure for locking all the cabinet drawers. The more complex of such apparatuses have proven to be inefiicient, and because they require a greater number of moving parts are subject to breakdown at fre- 7 quent intervals.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved component interlocking and locking apparatus for a cabinet.

It is a further object to provide an improved drawer interlocking and locking apparatus for a multiple drawer cabinet.

A still further object is to provide an interlocking and locking apparatus for the drawers of a multiple drawer cabinet which utilizes a minimum number of moving parts, is simple in its operation, and in addition also serves to lock all the drawers against opening.

This invention involves multiple drawer cabinets of the type used as pedistals for desks or credenzas, of the type used for filing, and especially of the type commonly known as horizontal drawer files, and wherein each drawer is disposed within the cabinet for movement between a position confined within the cabinet and a position exposed from the cabinet; and contemplate providing apparatus responsive to the movement of one of the drawers from within the confines of the cabinet for locking all the remaining drawers so that they cannot be so moved. The apparatus in another mode of operation thereof also locks each and every one of the drawers against movement from within the cabinet.

In carrying out the invention, according to the preferred embodiment thereof, the cabinet has installed on the rear wall thereof a lock-bar for each cabinet drawer and each drawer has disposed of the rear wall thereof a strap. Each lock-bar has formed thereon a cam which normally rests on the strap of its associated drawer, and each lock-bar furthermore has formed thereon a hook for every other drawer in the cabinet; such that upon movement of a 0 drawer and its strap away from the cam of its associated lock-bar gravity causes the lock-bar to fall and the hooks formed thereon to engage the straps of the remaining drawers to prevent movement thereof. Upon movement of the drawer back into the cabinet the strap engages the cam and returns the lock-bar to its non-latching position disengaging the hooks thereof from the straps of the other drawers.

One of the lock-bars has formed thereon an additional set of hooks and is disposed for coaction with a plunger type lock such that upon movement of the plunger type lock from a position projecting out of the cabinet to a position towards the cabinet the lock-bar is raised and said other hooks engage the straps on all of the drawers of the cabinet to prevent movement thereof.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention in its details of construction and arrangement of parts, will be seen from the above, from the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the drawings, and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a horizontal drawer file of the type adapted to incorporate the instant invention;

FIG. 2. is an enlarged left side, sectional view of the inside of the cabinet of FIG. 1 showing an interlocking and locking apparatus therefor embodying the present invention, and further showing the upper drawer in the process of being moved from its position within. the confines of the cabinet and the lower drawer locked against such movement;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the interlocking and locking apparatus of FIG. 2 removed from the cabinet, and with the drawers cut away to better show details of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the lower drawer in the process of being moved from its position confined within the cabinet and the upper drawer locked against such movement;

FIG. is another view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing both drawers locked against movement; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For convenience, the invention will be described as applied to a two-drawer horizontal side file of the type commonly used for filing papers; it being understood nevertheless that without departing from the scope of this invention the subject interlocking and locking apparatus may be applied to a horizontal file cabinet, to the drawers of a cabinet of the type used as a pedestal for a desk, or credenza, or for that matter to any other cabinet or housing wherein there are disposed one or more components moveable between positions confined within the cabinet and positions extending from the cabinet.

vVith reference to FIG. 1 there is shown generally at a filing cabinet housing an upper horizontal type file drawer 22 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a lower horizontal type file drawer 24 both of which are disposed upon conventional suspension mechanisms (not shown) for movement between positions confined within cabinet 20 and a positions etxending from cabinet 20.

A strap 34 (FIGS. 2 and 3), disposed on a rear wall 32 of drawer 22 is formed in substantially U-shaped configuration with a first leg 34 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and a second leg 36 (FIGS. 2 and 3) thereof secured to the rear wall 32 of drawer 22 by suitable means such as screws 38, and with a horizontal bar 46 spanning legs 34 and 36.

An upper edge 42 (FIGS. 3 and 5) of horizontal bar is normally disposed in engagement with a cam surface 50 (FIG. 3) of a main lock-bar 52 disposed for limited vertical up and down movement on a pair of grommets 54 (FIGS. 2 and 6) carried by a rear wall 56 of cabinet 20 and secured thereto by appropriate means such as screws 58. A spacer portion 66 of grommet 54 serves to space a mounting portion 68 of lock-bar 52 from rear wall 56 of cabinet 20, while a bearing portion 70 (FIG. 6) formed on grommet 54 with a reduced diameter is received within an elongated aperture 72 (FIG. 3) of main lockbar 52 to act as a guide for the vertical up and down movement of main lock-bar 52. A washer 74 (FIGS. 2 and 6) is disposed beneath the head of each screw 58 and in front of the surface of mounting portion 68 of main lock-bar 52 to retain lock-bar 52 in position on grommet 54.

Horizontal bar 46 of strap 36 is also disposed for en gagement by a hook portion 80 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of an auxiliary lock-bar 82 disposed for vertical up and down movement on a pair of grommets 54 (FIG. 4) secured to back wall 56 of cabinet 20 by screws 58. A spacing portion 66' is formed on grommet 54' to provide a space between rear wall 56 of cabinet 20 and a mounting portion 84 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of auxiliary lock-bar 82. A reduced diameter mounting portion, such as mounting portion 70 of grommet 54 (FIG. 6) is also formed on grommet 54 for receipt within an elongated slot 86 formed in mounting portion 84 of auxiliary lock-bar 82. Washers 74' (FIG. 4) are disposed beneath the heads of screws 58' and in front of mounting portion 84 of lockbar 82 to properly secure lock-bar 82 on grommets 54.

A cam surface 90 (FIGS. 3 and 4), formed on auxiliary lock-bar 82, normally rests upon an upper edge 92 of a horizontal bar 94 of a strap 96, which is formed in a substantially U-shaped configuration and has a pair of legs 98 (FIGS. 3), 100 (FIGS. 3 and 4), interconnecting same to a rear wall 102 of drawer 24 through the intermediary of screws 38. Horizontal bar 94 of strap 96 is furthermore disposed for engagement by a hook 110 (FIGS. 3 and 5) formed on main lock-bar 52.

It should thus be clear that when drawers 22 and 24 are disposed in an unlocked condition within the confines of cabinet 20 (as shown in FIG. 3, and with the lock-bar in dot-dash lines in FIG. 5) that horizontal bar 40 of strap 30 of drawer 22 is disposed with edge 42 thereof in engagement with cam surface 56 of main lock-bar 52 holding main lock-bar 52 in its nonlatching position, and that horizontal bar 94 of strap 96 of drawer 24 is disposed in engagement with cam surface 90 of auxiliary lock-bar 82 holding auxiliary lock'bar 82 in its nonlatching position.

In response to an initial movement of drawer 24, from within the confines of cabinet 20, auxiliary lock-bar 82 moves downward under the effects of gravity into the position shown therefore in dot-dash lines in FIG. 4 with earn surface 90 thereof in contact with upper edge 92 of horizontal bar 94 on strap 96 and with hook thereof engaged with horizontal bar 46 of strap 42 on drawer 22. Because auxiliary lock-bar 82 is secured by threaded members 58 to rear wall 56 of cabinet 20 drawer 22 is restrained against movement. As drawer 24 moves further out from cabinet 20 auxiliary lock-bar 82 continues to fall until its book 80 is fully hooked over horizontal bar 40 of strap 30 (as shown in full lines of FIG. 4) and auxiliary lock-bar 82 is in its latching position.

As drawer 24 is moved into cabinet 20 horizontal bar 94 of the strap 96 engages cam surface of auxiliary lock-bar 82 camming lock-bar S2 upwardly and moving lock-bar 82 from its latching position (as shown in full in FIG. 4) to its nonlatching position (as shown in FIG. 3) with hook 80 disengaged from bar 46 of strap 30 of drawer 22. Upper drawer 22 is thus free for movement to a position extending from cabinet 20.

correspondingly the movement of drawer 22 towards a position extending from cabinet 20 (FIG. 2) permits main lock-bar 52 to fall until hook thereof engages horizontal bar 94 of strap 96 of drawer 24 to prevent movement of drawer 24. Return movement of drawer 22 into cabinet 26 results in the engagement of upper edge 42 of horizontal bar 40 of strap 30 with cam surface 50 of main lock-bar 52 and the corresponding movement of main lock-bar 52 upwardly releasing hook 110 thereof from horizontal bar 94 of strap 96 on drawer 24.

A locking hook (FIGS. 2 and 3) is disposed on main lock-bar S2 for coaction with horizontal bar 40 of strap 30 on drawer 22, and a locking hook 122 is disposed on main lock-bar 52 for coaction with horizontal bar 94 of strap 96 on drawer 24.

An aperture 128 (FIGS. 2 and 3), formed proximate the upper end of lock-bar 52, is adapted to receive an actuating end 130 (FIG. 3) of a locking rod 132 rockably carried by a mounting block 134 secured beneath the top 136 (FIG. 2) of cabinet 20 by suitable means. An operating end 140 (FIGS. 2 and 3), formed on locking rod 132, is disposed for coaction with a shoulder 142 formed on a lock-rod 144 movably carried on mounting block 134 through the intermediary of an elongated slot 146 (FIG. 3) formed in lock-rod 144 and a threaded member 148 (FIG. 2) threaded into mounting block 134. A forward end 150 of lock-rod 144 is conventionally interconnected to a plunger type lock 152 carried by a support block 154 suitably secured beneath top 136 of cabinet 20.

Lock 152 includes a key-released plunger 156 (FIGS. 2 and 5) which, in response to movement in the direction of arrow A (FIG. 2) from an unlocked position (FIG. 2) to a locked position (FIG. 5), effects a movement of lock-rod 144 toward rear wall 56 of cabinet 20. As lock-rod 144 moves towards rear wall 56 of cabinet 20 rear shoulder 142 thereof engages operating end 140 of locking rod 132 and rocks locking rod 132 in the clockwise direction (FIG. 5) moving same from its unlocked position (as shown in FIG. 2) to a locked position (as shown in full lines in FIG. 5). During such movement end 130 of locking rod 132 engages the inner surface of aperture 128 and moves main lock-bar 52 upwardly from its unlocked position (as shown in dot-dash lines FIG.

) to a locked position wherein hook 1% thereof engages horizontal bar 46 of strap 42 of drawer 22, and hook 122 thereof engages horizontal bar 94 of strap 9% of drawer 24. Drawers 22 and 24 are therefore both locked within the confines of cabinet 20.

By proper manipulation of a suitable key plunger 156 is released from lock 152 and moves in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 2) carrying along therewith lock-rod Md and moving shoulder 1 212 of lock-rod i442 away from operating end 144 of locking rod 132. Gravity thereafter draws main lock-bar S2 downwardly rocking locking bar 132 in the counter-clockwise direction from its locked position (as shown in full lines in FIG. 5) to its unlocked position (as shown in dot, dash lines in FIG. 5), and moving locking hook 126? away from horizontal bar 40 of strap 30 of drawer 22 and locking hook 122 away from horizontal bar 94 of strap 96 of drawer 24 thus releasing drawers 22 and 24 for movement.

From the above description it will thus be seen that a novel and improved interlocking and locking apparatus has been provided for a cabinet; which apparatus, by associating a strap on each component with a selected loclbar secured for up and down verticle movement in the cabinet, by making each selected lock-bar responsive to movement of its associatmi component from within the confines of the cabinet to lock each other component within the cabinet, and by utilizing one of said lock-bars to lock all the components in response to actuation of a conventional lock, minimizes the amount of structure normally required to accomplish this interlocking and locking function While providing a simple and emcient apparatus therefore.

It is understood that although I have shown the preferred form of my invention that various modifications maybe made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit as comprehended by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A component locking and interlocking apparatus comprising:

(a) a first component mounted for movement from a first position to a second position;

(b) a second component mounted for movement from a first position to a second position;

(c) first interlock means disposed for coaction with said first component and said second component and responsive to movement of said first component from said first position thereof to move from a nonlatching position to a latching position wherein it latches said second component against movement; and

(d) second interlock means disposed for coaction with said first component and said second component and responsive to movement of said second component from said first position thereof to move from nonlatching position to a latching position wherein it latches said first component against movement;

(e) one of said interlock means furthermore coacting with both said first component and said second component to secure both said first component and said second component against said movement.

2. The component locking and interlocking apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

(a) said first component and said second component each include a strap;

(b) said first interlock means includes a cam disposed for coaction with said strap of said first component and normally engaging said strap of said first component to position said first interlock means in its nonlatching position;

(0) said strap of said first component moving with said first component towards its second position and freeing said first interlock/means for movement to its latching position;

(d) said first interlock means further including a hook disposed for coaction with said strap of said second component and adapted to engage said strap on said second component as said first interlock means moves to its latching position to prevent movement of said second component;

(6) said second interlocking means includes a cam disposed for coaction with said strap of said second component and normally engaging said strap of said second component to position said second interlock means in its nonlatching position;

(i) said strap of said second component moving with said second component towards its second position and freeing said second interlock means for movement to its latching position; and

(g) said second interlock means further including a hook disposed for coaction with said strap of said first component and adapted to engage said strap of said first component as said second interlock means moves to its latching position to prevent movement of said first component.

3. The component locking and interlocking apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first interlock means and said second interlock means move to their latching positions due to gravitational pull.

4. The component locking and interlocking apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

(a) said one of said interlock means which coacts with both said first component and said second component to secure both of said components against movement includes a first locking hook disposed for coaction with said strap of said first component and a second locking hook disposed for coaction with said strap of said second component;

(b) said first locking hook and said second locking hook being disposed to engage said straps upon movement of said one of said interlock means to a locking position in response to actuation of a lock.

5. The component locking and interlocking apparatus of claim 4 wherein the movement of said one of said interlock means to said locking position is against the pull of gravity.

6. A cabinet comprising:

(a) housing means;

(b) a first drawer disposed in said housing means from movement from a position confined within said housing means to a position extending therefrom;

(c) at least one other drawer disposed in said housing means for movement from a position confined within said housing means to a position extending therefrom;

(d) a first lock-bar carried by said housing means for movement between a nonlatching position and a latching position and disposed for coaction with said first and said other drawers;

(e) said first lock-bar furthermore being responsive to movement of said first drawer from. saidposition confined within said housing means to latch said other drawer against such movement;

(f) at least one other lock-bar disposed in said housing means for movement between a nonlatching position and a latching position and disposed for coaction with said first and said other drawers;

(g) said other lock-bar being responsive to movement of said other drawer from said position confined within said housing means to latch said first drawer against such movement; and

(h) lock means carried by said housing means;

(i) said lock means coacting with one of said lockbars to move same to a locking position;

(j) said one of said lock-bars further coacting with said first and said other drawers to lock same against movement, when in its locking position.

7. The cabinet of claim 6 wherein:

(a) said first drawer mounts a strap for coaction with said first and said other lock-bars;

(b) said first lock bar carries a cam disposed for engagement with said strap on said first drawer to hold said first lock-bar in a nonlatching position, said first lock-bar, upon movement of said first drawer and its strap away therefrom, falling to a latching position;

(c) said first lockbar also carrying a latching hook for engagement with said strap on said other drawer, when said first lock-bar is in its latching position, to prevent movement of said other drawer;

(d) said other lock-bar carries a cam disposed for engagement with said strap on said other drawer to hold said other lock-bar in a nonlatching position, said first lock-bar, upon movement of said other drawer and its strap away therefrom, falling to a latching position;

(e) said other lock-bar also carrying a latching hook for engagement with said strap on said first drawer, when said other lock-bar is in its latching position, to prevent movement of said first drawer.

8. The cabinet of claim 7 wherein:

(a) said one of said lock-bars disposed for coaction with said lock means carries a first locking hook for coaction with said strap on said first drawer and another locking hook for coaction with said strap on said other drawer;

(b) said one of said lock-bars moving in response to actuation of said lock means to a position wherein said first hook and said other hook engage said first strap and said other strap respectively.

9. The cabinet of claim 7 wherein:

(a) said first lock-bar and said other lock-bar are disposed on the inside surface of a rear wall of said housing means for limited vertical up and down movement; and

(b) said strap on said first drawer and said strap on said other drawer are disposed on outside surface of the rear walls thereof.

10. A horizontal type file cabinet or the like comprising:

tally disposed bar spanning said pair of legs and spaced from said outside surface of said rear wall of said upper drawer;

(e) a substantially U-shaped lower strap having a pair of spaced legs secured to an outside surface of a rear wall of said lower drawer and having a horizontally disposed bar spanning said pair of legs and spaced from said outside surface of said rear wall of said lower drawer;

(f) a first lock-bar disposed on an inside surface of said rear wall of said housing for limited up and down movement and carrying a cam adapted to engage an edge of said upper strap when said upper drawer is enclosed by said housing to maintain said first lockbar in a nonlatching position, and a hook adapted to hook said lower drawer when said lower drawer is enclosed by said housing and said upper drawer has been moved towards its position extending from said housing to latch said lower drawer against movement; and

(g) a second lock-bar disposed on an inside surface of said rear wall of housing for limited up and down movement and carrying a cam adapted to engage an edge of said lower strap when said lower drawer is enclosed by said housing to maintain said second lock-bar in a nonlatching position, and a hook adapted to hook said upper strap when said upper drawer is enclosed by said housing and said lower drawer has been moved towards its position extending from said housing to latch said lower drawer against movement.

11. The file cabinet of claim 10 wherein said cams and said hooks carried by said first and said second lockbars are formed from the material thereof.

12. The file cabinet of claim 10 wherein said first and second lock-bars each have formed therein elongated slots and are mounted on grommets carried by said rear wall of said hOusing and including portions adapted to be received in said elongated slots.

13. The file cabinet of claim 10 wherein:

(a) said hooks on said first and said second lock-bars are downwardly directed; and

(b) said cams on said first and said second lock-bars engage upper edges of their respective straps.

14. The file cabinet of claim 13 wherein said first and said second lock-bars move from their respective nonlatching positions due to gravity alone.

15. The file cabinet of claim 10 wherein:

(a) one of said lock-bars includes an upper locking hook disposed to engage said upper strap when said upper drawer is enclosed by said housing and said one of said lock-bars is in a locking position and a lower locking hook disposed to engage said lower strap when said lower drawer is enclosed by said housing and said one of said lock-bars is in said locking position; and

(b) a lock is carried by said housing for coaction with said one of said lock-bars to move same to its locking position.

16. The file cabinet of claim 13 wherein:

(a) one of said lock-bars includes an upper upwardly directed hook disposed to hook said upper strap when said upper drawer is enclosed by said housing and said one of said lock-bars is moved upwardly to a locking position, and a lower upwardly directed locking hook disposed to hook said lower strap when said lower drawer is enclosed by said housing and said one of said lock-bars is in said locking position; and

(b) a lock is carried by said housing for coaction with said one of said lock-bars to move same upwardly to its locking position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 950,813 3/1910 Bodenstein 3l222l X 2,719,770 10/1955 Roberts 312-221 2,842,419 7/1958 Howard 3122l8 2,882,112 4/1959 Jarui 312221 65 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner, 

